Pagosa Springs Girls Choir sets final auditions

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By Patti Vyzralek

Special to The PREVIEW

Girls who will be entering fifth through eighth grades have another opportunity to become members of the Pagosa Springs Girls Choir for the 2015-2016 school year. A final audition will be held on Thursday, Aug. 20, in the Pagosa Springs Middle School band room at 7 p.m.

A coaching class is being offered to help girls prepare for the audition. It will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 18, also at 7 p.m. in the middle school band room. This class, though not required, is recommended. Girls will not only learn the song for the audition, but they will also learn strategies that will help to make their audition successful. The cost for the coaching class is $5.

For the audition, girls will be asked to sing “America” (“My Country ’tis of Thee”) without accompaniment. They will also be asked to echo-sing simple melodic patterns and echo-clap rhythmic patterns. There is a $10 audition fee.

The Pagosa Springs Girls Choir has just completed its second year. The girls performed at many events this past year, including, the Veterans’ Breakfast, for the Rotary Club, at the Over the Rainbow Pagosa Springs Girls Choir fundraising event and at their own two major concerts. The choir has become known as one of the newest and most exciting musical groups in our community.

The Pagosa Springs Girls Choir also offers a summer activity designed to enrich the arts education of each girl. This past summer, the girls spent a week in Texas learning about professional musical theater. While there, they attended performances of “Annie” and “Cinderella.” They also participated in two choral workshops, honing their skills in vocal and choral techniques.

Rehearsals for the choir are held on Monday afternoons from 4-5 p.m. in the Pagosa Springs Middle School band room, with the first rehearsal taking place on Sept. 14. The tuition fee for the Pagosa Springs Girls Choir is $200 per year for each girl. The $10 audition fee will be applied to the payment. A payment plan for the tuition will be offered and scholarships are also available.

The choir director, Linda Parker, said, “No child will be turned away due to an inability to pay. If there is a need for financial assistance, we will help the family find it.”

Parker added that girls in the choir learn to perform high-quality choral music in a variety of styles. Some music includes choreography and props.

“They spend a great deal of time on vocal and choral techniques, but the girls also concentrate on stage presence and musicianship,” Parker said. “We have an extraordinary year in store and hope that Pagosa’s young girls will be a part of this exciting musical journey.”

For questions or more information, call Linda Parker at 264-1434.